Man says Alaska Airlines wrongly banned him for touching crew member

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A San Diego man banned from Alaska Airlines for touching a flight attendant says he's a victim of discrimination against men.

Mike Timon tells the San Diego Union-Tribune the airline banned him, saying he touched the female flight attendant on the buttocks on a flight from Oregon to San Diego last week.

Timon says he only touched the woman politely on her back to get her attention. He says his gesture was misunderstood as sexual harassment and police met him as he got off the plane, though no charges were filed.

Alaska spokeswoman Ann Johnson confirmed Timon is banned pending the outcome of an investigation, but could not comment further.

The 53-year-old Timon says he is the victim of an out-of-control atmosphere that discriminates against men on sexual harassment issues.

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